“Diwali leave of all our employees have been cancelled as extra manpower is needed to ensure a fast response and minimum damage to life and property,” he added.

The officer said that the 1,500 fire fighters along with the back-up teams in control room, workshops and other departments would be on duty to tackle emergency situations.

“A total of 59 fire stations exist and we have established 22 additional centres considering last year’s experience,” Mishra said.

A total of 290 fire incidents were reported during Diwali last year.

Fire engines would be stationed at 22 sensitive areas across the city like Azadpur Mandi, Bara Tooti Chowk in Sadar Bazar, Ghitorni, Tilak Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Gandhi Nagar as a precaution as the maximum number of fire calls are received from these areas, Mishra said.

The additional emergency teams would be stationed at designated areas from 5 p.m. on Sunday till midnight.